By William Madouk
Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and their rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) traded accusations on Thursday over an attack on the Khartoum refinery in Al-Jaili.
This incident marks the latest in a series of events where SAF and RSF have accused each other of perpetuating the ongoing conflict which erupted almost two years ago.
Office of the Official Spokesman for the Armed Forces alleged that RSF set fire on Al-Jaili refinery after tightening noose on its all combat fronts.
“In continuation of its criminal and hateful behaviour towards the country and its people, and after our forces tightened the noose on it on all combat fronts,” SAF said in a statement shared on their official Facebook page.
“The terrorist militia of Al-Dagalo deliberately set fire to the Khartoum refinery in Al-Jaili this morning in a desperate attempt to destroy the infrastructures of this country, after despairing of achieving its illusions of seizing its resources and land,” it added.
SAF noted that this hateful behaviour reveals the extent of the criminality and decadence of the RSF militia, its leadership, personnel and supporters.
However, the Hemedti’s RSF also claimed that SAF launched airstrikes on the refinery.
“The ongoing aerial bombardment of the refinery, the latest of which was this morning, which led to its destruction, represents a full-fledged war crime,” the RSF said in a statement.
Al-Jaili area is situated roughly around 70 kilometres north of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
Earlier this month, the army and its allied forces recaptured the state capital Wad Madani from the RSF, a strategic city that could mark a turning point in the ongoing conflict that has triggered a displacement crisis.
The army and the RSF together led a coup in 2021, removing Sudan’s civilian leadership, but split less than two years later over plans to integrate their forces.
Fighting between the rivals broke out in April 2023 in the capital Khartoum and has plunged half of the population into hunger.